Due to the increased use of mobile phones, the demand for apps to keep smartphones safe for kids is raised so that parents can track real-time conversations on their teen’s phone through access to application history, browser history, text messages etc.
Parent controls apps must be used by parents for their kids to restrict the access of certain content on their iPhone that is unsuitable according to their age and maturity level but freely available to view online.
Benefits of using safety apps for kids in iPhone
- These apps give an idea to the parents about what their kids are doing on the iPhone because it is very hard to physically see what they do online.
- All of us have many times observed that children hide their mobile phone screens as soon as we enter the room. In such cases, parents surely want one of the best safety apps.
- These apps search a child’s location or inform parents if the child is not in school during school hours.
- These apps inform parents to whom your child talks online.
There are usually four types of apps or software which are being used by parents very frequently to keep smartphones safe for their kids.
Content filters
Content filtering is the process of managing or screening access to specific search engines, emails or web pages by blocking the content that contains harmful information and pose a risk to users in future. Content filtering has following advantage
- Decrease malware attacks.
- Protect form Exploit Kits.
- Strengthens Network Bandwidth.
- Common types of content filters are Internet filters, Proxy content filters, Web filters, Email filters, Search Engine filters and DNS based content filtering.
Usage controls
Usage controls limit the usage of iPhone by putting time limit on usage or stopping particular type of usage. They allow the user to restrict explicit songs and movies, turn off devices at particular times of day, volume output etc.
Computer Usage Management Tools
These tools are used to ensure the use of particular types of software only.
Monitoring
These controls are used to track location and activities on the mobile.
Parents can also restrict the settings on iPhone for explicit content, purchases, downloads and privacy. iPhone offers inbuilt content and privacy restriction features. Apart from that there are many apps in the market for these functions. No safety app is perfect but in this article, I will discuss some of the best Kids safety apps for iPhone users only.
1. Net Nanny Child App
- Up to date design and superb web-filtering technology.
- Cost is $90 per year for 1 to 20 devices. Free trial is also available.
- Offers features like web portal for parents, location tracking, location history, web monitoring, web filter, time limits, scheduling, limited app management and app blocker.
- Do not provide features like geo fencing, call blocking and logging, text content, text blocking and logging.
Download Net Nanny Child App from Apple Appstore
2. Kaspersky Safe Kids (with GPS) Apps
- Cost is $15 per year for unlimited devices. Free trial is also available.
- Offers features like web portal for parents, geo fencing, location tracking, web monitoring, web filter, time limits, scheduling, limited app management and limited app blocking.
- Do not provide features like call logging and blocking, text logging and blocking, text content and location history.
- Very bad user interface.
- Slow web portal.
Download Kaspersky Safe Kids (with GPS) App from Apple Appstore
3. Qustodio Parental Control App
- Cost is $138 per year for 1 to 15 devices. Free trial is also available.
- Offers features like web portal for parents, geo fencing, location tracking, location history, web monitoring, web filter, time limits, scheduling, app management and app blocker.
- Do not offer features like call logging and blocking, text logging and blocking and text content. Qustodio app offers these features for android users only.
- Web filtering is untrustable.
Download Qustodio Parental Control App from Apple Appstore
4. Norton Family Parental Control App
- Cost is $50 per year for unlimited devices. Free trial is also available.
- Offers features like web portal for parents, geo fencing, location tracking, location history, web monitoring, web filter, time limits and scheduling.
- Do not offer features like app blocking, app management, text blocking and logging, text content, call blocking and logging.
Download Norton Family Parental Control App for iPhone
5. OurPac Parental Control App
- Cost is $84 per year for 1 to 20 devices. Free trial is also available.
- Offers features like web portal for parents, geo fencing, location tracking, web filter, time limits, scheduling, app management and app blocking.
- Do not offer features like location history, text content, text blocking and logging, call blocking and call logging.
Download OurPac Parental Control App for iPhone
6. Screen Time Parental Control App
- Cost is $40 per year for 1 to 5 devices. Free trial is also available.
- Offers features like web portal for parents, geo fencing with extra cost, location tracking with extra cost, location history with extra cost, web monitoring, time limits and scheduling.
- Do not offer features like call logging and blocking, text logging and blocking, text content, web filter, app management and app blocking.
- Up to date design with superb access.
Download Screen Time Parental Control App for iPhone
7. MMGuardian Parental Control App
- Cost is $70 per year for 1 to 5 devices. Free trial is also available.
- Offer features like web portal for parents, text logging, text content, location tracking, web monitoring and limited app blocking.
- Do not offer features like app management, time limits, location history, geo fencing, text blocking, call blocking and call logging.
- Very poor user interface.
Download MMGuardian Parental Control App for iPhone
Conclusion
Internet safety and implementation of parental controls are necessary steps for parents to guard their kids from inappropriate information but there are some negative impacts on children such as –
- Children’s eagerness is enhanced due to parental control. It is noticed in extreme cases that children get so angry and destroy the iPhone.
- Develop a feeling of betrayal in your kid. As a result, your kid looks sad and doubts his parents/guardian loyalty.
- Kids lose their trust and this puts mental and emotional strain on their health.
After considering the above drawbacks of using safety apps on the iPhone, my personal opinion is that these apps should only be installed on the iPhone if parents believe their child has selected the way of darkness.
It is best to interact with their ward and find out the best solution to the problem because felicitous and an attractive recommendation is always better than spying on your child. This helps to build up a healthy bonding with the family.
